The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-06-30
INQUEST ON THE AuUARU STREET
FIRE.


In accordance with Chapter X,
of the Session Laws of 1886, which
provides for inquests of fires, the
Marshal convened jury composed
of the following named gentlemen
to enquire into the origin of the
fire at Cunha's store, on Nuuanu
street, on the night of the goth in
stant. The jury were Messrs.
Louisson, j. II. Soper, II. Water
house, w. w. Hall, J. b. Atherton
and M. Davis.
Mr.. s. Il. Dole made the appli-
cation for the enquiry on the part
of the Northern Assurance Com
pany. The building was insured
for $4,000 and the stock for So 900.
Manuel r. de Maderas, first wit
ness, stated that Immediately after
the fire took place, he went to
Frank Cunha's house and asked
him if he knew that his store was
burnt. He asked me if it were
true, or q joke. On assuring him it
was true, he dressed himself and
we went down together. We started
within one hour after my arrival at
his house. / went up in hack.
When we got to The ruins Cunha
wanted to go inside the building
but he was not permitted to do so.
He said he felt most sorry about the
death of the boy. He knew nothing
about the affairs of the business
before the fire happened.
Antoine Fernandez sworn, stated:
He remembered the fire but did not
go there. l saw Mr.. John Cunha
going home at quarter past z o'clock
the evening of the fire. / went to
Cunha's house about IL o'clock and
told them that the store was burnt
out. l stayed about four minutes
and then went to my own house.
After | had gone to bed man
came and asked me if l knew any
thing about the boy. No enquiry
was made about the store goods. |
do not know il John Cunha got up
when l went 10 his house. l heard
him speak. l did not know the
boy was dead when / started out.
Jose Rosa sworn: l knew the
boy that lost his life. He some
times slept in room of the second
floor of the store. do not know
whose business it was to close the
store, or what is the regular time oI
closing. l do not know who car.
ries the key of the store.
+. nj. Swanzy sworn, stated:
am connected with Messrs. Y. H.
Davies 6 Co. They are insurance
agents. The premises destroyed
were insured in their office. The
building and stock had previously
been insured for five or six years.
John Cunha sworn, stated: |
closed the store doors and locked
them at O'Clock together with
Frank Cunha and the boy. Frank
Cunha then said he wanted some
meat for the dog, and the boy volun
teered to go for it. In little while
he came back. l started for my
house and the boy and Frank Cunh;
went together. 1 got to my house
between z and 8 o'clock. About
half-past s O'Clock l went to bed
! heard no fire bell rung. l felt Sc
scared when L was told my store
was burnt out, that l could mo-
speak. | did not go down tow
that night. went down next morn
ing at 6 O'Clock.
Mr., Dole, in addressing the jury
said that this was all the evidence
they had to offer. They would
observe that there was no ligh
burning in the store on the night o
the fire, neither were there an,
matches there, and no apparen
cause by which the place could b'
set on fire. 1t was for them t.
decide whether it was the result O
pure accident or not. The,
would observe that on the news O
the fire being conveyed to the part
ners in the business, there was II,
surprise expressed. 1t was possible
, that the boy who eventually lost hi
life was sent for the meat in orde
to be got out of the way until tn
fire was well under way. TIL
value of the verdict would be al
expression of any suspicious cir
cumstances. Mr.. Dole then invite,